Boy sexually harassed, Gurugram school faces probe for inaction

GURUGRAM: The Class XII student of a private school, whose mother had accused his classmate of sexual harassment on school campus on Wednesday, is yet to record his statement under Section 164 (recording of confessions and statements) of the CrPC. An FIR was registered against the accused at Sector 9 A police station under the POCSO Act on Wednesday, and Gurugram police have already started probing the school’s alleged inaction in the matter.
The boy’s mother who is the complainant had claimed the accused pulled down her son’s trousers and touched him inappropriately in front of other students to embarrass him.

“During an athletic meet in the school lawn, the boy pulled down my son’s trousers after tearing them. There were many students present, including girls. Some students had stepped in to stop them, but to no avail. My son is traumatised. He confided in his class teacher as well, but they did not take the matter seriously,” the complainant told cops.

A special police team led by a probationer woman sub inspector, visited the school in Sector 4 on Thursday to review the spot where the alleged sexual harassment had taken place. The team also spoke to the vice principal of the school.

Owing to sensitivity of the matter, police refrained from sharing many details, but sources claimed the preliminary investigation revealed that there were three teachers, including a woman teacher, present at the time of the alleged crime. The child had allegedly apprised the teachers of the act, but they had taken it lightly and tried to hush up the matter. The investigators said the school was still not in a mood to cooperate with the investigation.

“The boy’s statement could not be recorded on Thursday, but our team went to the school and met the vice principal. The school’s response and cooperation is not every encouraging. We are investigating their role in hushing up the entire matter. We will be speaking to the accused student also,” said ACP Rajeev Yadav.

The boy was produced before the child welfare committee on Thursday for counselling. “If the school is at fault, action will be taken,” said inspector Sudhir Kumar, SHO, Sector 9 A police station.